82-year-old folk artist Wang Ziyi established a seal-making shop on Jan 1 in the ancient town of Zhaohua, Guangyuan, Southwest China's Sichuan province. 

Veteran artist Wang Ziyi (3rd, L) launches a seal-making shop on Jan 1 in the ancient town of Zhaohua, Guangyuan, Southwest China's Sichuan province. [Photo/share.gyxww.cn]

Wang is recognized as an inheritor of seal carving, calligraphy, paper cutting and wood carving.

He created many seals and paper-cut art pieces to encourage Chinese people in the face of crises such as natural disasters and the COVID-19 epidemic; some of his works are in commemoration of major historical junctures, including Hong Kong athletes’ participation in the Beijing Olympics, the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.

Wang Ziyi presents his seals. [Photo/share.gyxww.cn]

All Wang needs to create are a carving knife, a piece of jade and a desk. Years of grinding have shortened his carving knife by about 17 cm.

After Wang was laid off from his job more than 30 years ago, he began to devote himself to stamp carving and paper cutting. He often stayed up until one or two in the morning, or even overnight, to polish his work.

In recent years, similar folk art stores have opened their doors in the ancient town, showing off their antique charm to flocks of visitors.